Truss



Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUSS Edgar A. Creighton, Bridgeboro, N. .I. Application May s, 1947, Serial No. *746,641

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to trusses, more particularly to trusses for supporting and retaining hernias, and has for an object to provide improved devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel support for a hernia pad, which permits easy and quick replacement or removal of the pad with respect to its support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connection between a hernia pad and its support, which connection permits. the pad to swivel relative to its support while maintaining its hernia-supporting action.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a deformable hernia pad, together with a non-deformable support therefor, whereby movement of the pad relative to the support causes the latter to deform the pad to maintain the hernia-supporting action. t

A further object of the invention is to provide a pad-type hernia support whose pad is movable relative to its support to conform to movement of the wearer's body, and which support exerts pressure at a constant angle regardless of movements of the pad.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swivel connection between a hernia pad and its support such that the angle of support applied to the hernia is substantially constant, regardless of swiveling of the pad relative to its support.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in a hernia truss having a pad for closing the hernia opening, means for maintaining the pad in closing position with respect to the hernia opening regardless of normal body movements tending to cause the pad to slip.

'These and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claim, taken in accordance with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a hernia truss constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, ragmentary, elevational View of a hernia truss pad, taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the pad shown in Fig. 2, viewed from the left of the latter figure;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken along the line V-V of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3 of an end of a pad, but with the latter tilted relative to its support; and,

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, but showing the pad tilted in the opposite direction relative to its support.

In the use of devices of the type illustrated in the drawings, successful support may depend upon proper application of pressure by the truss, and particularly upon application of pressure in the right direction or at the right angle to prei vent outward movement of the hernia into the hernia opening or cavity. i

Where the truss employs a bow or U-shaped member adapted to fit on the hip of the wearer and having a pad at one or both ends, as herein illustrated, it has been found desirable to provide a connection between the pad and the U-shaped member which is swiveled, or at: least partially self-adjusting, to permit the pad 'to tilt and remain parallel to the 'surface of the wearer's body at the hernia region as the plane of the latter sh'ifts relative to the U-shaped member. i

I-Iowever, such shifting ofthe plane of `the surface of the wearer's body usually does not involve any change in the position of the hernia, and consequently the direction in which the hernia-supporting force or pressure of the truss is applied should not be varied. Nevertheless, such variations in the direction of application of pressure do occur when swiveling or tilting pads are utilized, particularly if 'the pad has a slightly domed surface.

Applicant's invention eliminates this disadvantage while retaining the previously-obtained advantages thereof as well as producing additional advantages as will hereinafter appear.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the reference character o indicates, in its entirety, a truss for supporting and retaining hernias and the like, which truss comprises a U-shaped pad-supportin member I l, preferably of spring steel, adapted to fit on or about the hip of the wearer, and a pair of pads l2 removably carried at the free ends of the U-shaped member ll. Each free end of the legs of the U-shaped pad support H terminates in an eye or loop providing an enlargement or head l3 on which to mount the pad z. Preferably, these heads !3 lie in' planes substantially perpendicular to the plane containing the remainder of the 3 pad support, so that when the latter embraces the wearer's body the heads will lie flat with respect to the surface of the wearer s body at the region of contact therewith.

The pad l2 is of soft deformable material, for example, sponge rubber, altho this particular material is mentioned by Way of illustration only, as it will be apparent that other materials, in cluding ,other types .of rubber,wil1 .function satisfactorily'.

Inasmuch as both pads are of identical'construction, only one Will be described in detai1, in the interest of brevity. The pad is formed" with a central hollow or pocket |4 of a size to' receive the head !3, and having an entrance |5 for reception of the adjacent portion of' the-pa'd* support ll. Inasmuch as thepa-dmaterial is deformable, the entrance !5 may be stretched suficiently to pass the head !3, particularly' if the latter is slightly lubricated, as with soa p.

The defrmabilitr o'f the pa dialso:permitsthe la'ttr t' herotated onthe head with the *support ll constituting the axisi' of rotation; rota tien' through 18'0l degreesresulting in: reversal oi the: fames of the' pad; whieh'a faces. differzin the manner now to be described.

As c1a`r1y illustratedintFgst &and 75, thezpad h'a' a dome -'shaped' side I 6 and: an opposite; side which compr'ses a flat central portion? I'I and'a conv'ex: annula portion. I 8';. the* latter joining the -central portion l with' an-.annular edge l9 whiohis commo'nzto bothsfaces 'of the-pad; A var'iety of' padi face shapes* may be-- found desirable; the: particular"face torbe placed: against the wearersibody depending` on. the-fieshiness of the wearer, the size-ofthe-herniaopening, etc::-

An important advantage resulting, from' the dfo mability of the: pad in' combination with the-fiat head !3- on which the. padis-= mounted, isi illustratedinzFgs 61 and i 7, Fig. 6 showing; the pa i tilted with t respect to the: head l 3 i the: inclin'ation beings outward: and downward relative to the 'wearer's body, againstwhich face H of" the pad engages.`

such tilting of: the padmight-result, for ex ample, when the wearer crosses one knee over the other whilesea-teds Itwill be a-'pparent from consideration of Fig. 6 that while the pad tilts so that it continues to lie fiat against the surface of the wearer*s body, the lower edge of the head !3 deforms the pad towards the wearer's body, as at 20, to provide a projection serving to maintain the hernia opening closed and prevent slippage of the pad with respect to the hernia opening.

The same action occurs when the pad is tilted in the opposite dii'ectioni.: e. outwardly' and upwardly as shown in Fi`g. 7, it being assumed that face l' is against the wearer's body. In this situation the head !3 causes a protuberance at ZI, serving to maintain the hernia opening closed and preventing slippage of the pad.

What'is claimed is:

AV herniartruss pad having a pair of opposite sides meeting in a common edge, one of said sides` bei-n dome-shaped throughout and the opposite side having a flat central portion and a convexcannularrportion joining said acentralipprtonwith sad common.edgesaid pad having-a circular'hollow center: whose;-diameteris greater than its height,.saiddiameter lying in theplane containing the:: pad: common-3 edgei and said pad having.: azrestricted* openingtoh said-hollow cen' ter: through: said:: edge thes material of said pad being elastic, wherebyrthe opening; maybe; temporarily expandedz' to' permit entry to the hollow center'ofan enlarged heads; of atruss support:

EDGAR' A., CREIGHTON; e

REFERENCES CITED T-lie following reierences are` of: record inth'e file of this patent:

UNITED STATES' PATENTS Number Namer Date 13293378' Nelson; Feb; 11 1919 1-;47.8,'388. Grayz Dec. 25; 1923 13740953 Nonwcodi Dec.: 24; 1929 2;142;073: Dobbs (CL) Dec. 2'71 938 21142074' Dobbs (2)` Dea. 27, 1938 2,270,291 Grey Jana. 20- 19.42 23*18;61-3 Lane= May- 1*1 ,4 1943 &323.326; Masen July 6, 1943 

